Do I need two trees to get fruit?

Yes, you need two different genetic varieties for cross pollination.

How do I know when the fruit is ripe?

The fruit will soften slightly and emit a strong, sweet fragrance.

Plant guide

Pawpaw.

Asimina triloba

Pronounced uh-SIM-ih-nuh try-LOH-buh

Also known as American paw paw, Dog-banana, Indian-banana, Indiana banana, Pawpaw, Pawpawtree, bandango, common paw paw

common pawpaw — Photo by Wendell Smith (CC BY) via iNaturalist

The pawpaw is a unique North American fruit tree that produces large, tropical tasting fruits. It grows as a small understory tree in its native habitat. You will love its drooping, dark green leaves and interesting purple flowers.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Deciduous fruit tree
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 15 to 30 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 5 to 9
Bloom time: Mid to late spring

Care

Young trees need protection from intense sun until they establish a strong root system. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to support healthy fruit production. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal poor drainage or nutrient deficiency.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during the first few years of growth.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins.
Pruning: Prune in late winter to remove dead wood and improve the tree shape.
Repotting: Pawpaws have a sensitive taproot, so only repot when absolutely necessary.
Soil: Deep, rich, well draining soil
Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0
Temperature: -25 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 20 to 40 years.
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots circling the bottom of the pot
Stunted growth despite proper care

Safety

People: The seeds and skin contain annonacin, which is toxic if ingested in large quantities.
Children: The seeds are a choking hazard and should not be eaten.
Contact allergens: Some individuals may experience skin irritation from handling the leaves or fruit skin.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is not considered a significant airborne allergen.
Edibility: Only the ripe fruit flesh is edible, as the skin and seeds can cause digestive distress.

How to identify it

Large, drooping, obovate leaves
Dark purple, bell shaped flowers
Clusters of kidney shaped fruit
Smooth, greyish brown bark

Height: 3 to 9m
Spread: 2.5 to 6m
Leaves: bright green, yellow in autumn, deciduous
Flowers: maroon, purple, 3 to 5cm
Fruit: green, brown, Late summer to early autumn

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, grafting, root suckers
When to plant: spring, early autumn
Overwintering: Young trees benefit from a layer of mulch around the base to protect roots from extreme temperature fluctuations. No special pruning is needed during the winter months.
In containers: It is not well suited for containers due to its deep taproot system.

Seed propagation

1. Collect fresh seeds in autumn and keep them moist.
2. Stratify seeds in the refrigerator for 90 to 120 days.
3. Plant seeds in deep pots to accommodate the taproot.
4. Keep soil consistently moist until germination occurs.

Plant pawpaws in a group to ensure cross pollination and create a mini woodland ecosystem.

Grows well with

Spicebush · They share similar moisture and shade requirements in the understory.
Wild Ginger · It makes a great groundcover that thrives in the same woodland conditions.

Similar species

Persimmon · Another native fruit tree that thrives in similar woodland habitats.

Science

Family: Annonaceae
Genus: Asimina
Order: Magnoliales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Eastern United States and parts of southeastern Canada.
Conservation: This species is secure and widely distributed throughout its native range.

It grows naturally in the shady understory of moist, rich bottomland forests.

Value to wildlife: larval host plant for zebra swallowtail butterfly, provides fruit for small mammals
Pollinators: beetles, flies
Uses: edible fruit, ornamental tree, wildlife habitat

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need two trees to get fruit?: Yes, you need two different genetic varieties for cross pollination.
How do I know when the fruit is ripe?: The fruit will soften slightly and emit a strong, sweet fragrance.

Where the name comes from

The name pawpaw likely comes from the Spanish word papaya due to a superficial resemblance in fruit appearance. The specific epithet triloba refers to the three lobed calyx of the flowers.

Good to know

Pawpaws have a tropical flavor profile often described as a mix of banana, mango, and pineapple.
They are the only temperate member of the custard apple family.
The fruit has a very short shelf life once picked, making it rare in commercial markets.
Early settlers used the fibrous inner bark to make cordage.

Also in

Deer-resistant plants

Keep your pawpaw growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.